5 Hints and Tips for a Cleansing Spring Clean
It seems like we've been waiting even longer this year for the sun to start shining and the birds to start chirping. Do you agree? We all deserve a 'spring' in our step (no more puns, I promise) and for life to start afresh. What better way to do this than start as we mean to go on and get that spring clean done.
The benefits of a good old fashioned clean go far beyond just ending up with a tidy home. According to this article (1), leading psychological research has related mess with stress and concluded that a good clean of the house positively affects mental health.
We all know how to clean, so we will not instruct you on vacuuming the floors or cleaning the bathroom. Instead, we wanted to look at how to make the most of our time when we get stuck in.
Make a plan
Every job is better executed if you have a clear laid plan. Now, we don't expect you to roll out a whiteboard and start brainstorming strategies (although some might enjoy this). We really mean jotting down a to-do list and potentially figure out a realistic amount of work to try and accomplish.
If you only have a day or weekend to commit to a spring clean, you want to make sure your time and effort is well spent!
Declutter
We highly recommend that you sort out anything you don't need and either recycle, reuse or donate them to a charity before you start to clean. This clears the path for an optimal clean, gives you more room to breathe and will mean you are ticking off two pretty major jobs in one.
Put summer clothes away
Having a dedicated suitcase, box or bag to stow your off-season wardrobe in for the time being creates more space and keeps your clothes safe.
It also means that when next winter rolls around, you get to revisit some of those forgotten outfits. It’s like a whole new wardrobe!
Work from top to bottom
Incredibly important, this tip will be a game-changer.
Imagine cleaning your floors impeccably, then going on to dusting the lampshades, simply moving the dirt from one surface to another that has already been taken care of. No!
Start with the higher-up jobs to save yourself revisiting the same spots.
The power of walls and skirting boards
Removing finger marks, scuffs and dust from walls, skirting boards and architraves is highly recommended.
It seems like it wouldn't make much difference and is a lot of work, but trust us, it's easy and so worth it.
Here's how we do it:
- Use the brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner and run it across skirting boards and architraves.
- Mix a little dish soap in a bucket with warm water.
- Turn that music up LOUD.
- Use a clean sponge dipped in the solution using gentle circular motions on the walls to remove marks.
- Run the sponge along the architraves and skirtings.
- For more stubborn stains, make a paste using ¼ cup of baking soda and a little water. Gently use the paste with a cloth to remove stains. Wipe paste off before letting dry.
Sources:
1: The Maids - Does a Clean House and Mental Health Go Hand-in-Hand?